Mr. John was born April 12, 1943 in Jigger, LA and passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2018 in Rayville, LA after a lengthy illness.

He was a member of the United Pentecostal Church of Rayville. Mr. John is preceded in death by his father, Sam Coates; mother, Beatrice W. Coates; son, Kenny Coates; sisters, Ruth Rowland, Patsy Leiva, Winnie Mae Clark, Hazel Vancel, Helen Stokes, and Linda Brown; brothers, Bill Coates and Bobby Coates. He was a devoted husband, friend, and adoring grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Coates of Rayville; children, Debbie Pritchard and husband, Homer of Rayville, Mark Coates of Rayville, and John Coates and wife, Billie Jo of Swartz; sisters, Betty Jones and husband, Bill Brown of Denham Springs and Brenda Sue and husband, Larry Bourgeois of Denham Springs; 11-grandchildren and 15-great grandchildren.